Web folding apparatus



June 22 1965 B. w. JOHNSON ETAL 3,190,639

WEB FOLDING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 23, 1963 June 22 1955 E. w. JOHNSON ETAL 3,190,639

WEB FOLDING APPARATUS Filed July 23, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fl/l/l fl /1/l/1/1/n/1 United States Patent() 3,190,639 WEB FGLDIN G APPARATUS Bernard W. Johnson, Rochester, and Stanley Q. Grady, Webster, NX., assignors to Addressograph-Multigrapil Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 23, 1963, Ser. No. 297,065 7 Claims. (Cl. 270-61) This invention relates to stacking devices for iiexible materials and, more particularly, to stacking devices for handling continuous lengths of flexible web material discharged from processing equipment to provide a folded stack of the web material.

In industrial and scientific operations, it is necessary to continuously monitor many different kinds of variable conditions and, in some applications, a continuous record of one or more of the monitored conditions is made. In some instances, the records produced, for example, by oscillographic or pen recorders attain 150 feet in length and comprise a continuous length of web material.

These long lengths of graphic originals frequently must be reproduced and, because of the length thereof, the cost of copying the original should be as low as possible. The well-known diazo printing method and equipment including both gas type and liquid development processes provides a simple and low cost way of reproducing graphic material. However, the length of the copy material required to produce a continuous record of the graphic original presents a number of problems. If the sensitized paper stock is provided in roll form so .that it can be unwound and then wound up on a take-up core or spool after printing, it is necessary to provide means for synchronizing the winding and unwinding means with the drive of the printing machine. If lthe copy paper is provided in a fan-folded -or folded stack, it is necessary to provide rather elaborate gathering devices or assemblies at the output of the diazo processing ymachine in order to return the printed stock to a folded or stacked condition. The complexity and cost of providing this type of web handling equipment vitiates to `a large degree the simplicity and low cost of the diazo printing equipment.

Accordingly, one lobject of this invention is to provide an improved stacking device for prefolded paper which automatically guides the unfolded web into a folded condition as it emerges from a processing machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved stacking device for prefolded paper stock which Aautomatically guides the unfolded web into a folded condition without requiring any moving or power actuated parts.

Another object is to provide an improved stacking device for prefolded material which employs only the drive mechanism normally used to move the material through a processing machine.

A further object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive stacking device that stacks a length of prefolded material into a folded condition after processing.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for handling continuous web material including successive spans joined along transversely extending fold lines in which alternate ones of the spans are buckled Within the throat or mouth of a guiding structure and then propelled into a web receiving receptacle in a stack folded condition.

In accordance with these and many other objects, an embodiment of the present invention comprises a continuous web handling apparatus for use with copying or other machines in which unfolded spans of material from a prefolded .supply stack are automatically returned to a folded stacked condition upon discharge from a processing or other web handling unit. This construction comprises a web receiving receptacle having spaced and upwardly eX- tending front and back walls joined by a lower wall. A Y

guide means disposed at the rear end of the web receiving receptacle is connected with the discharge end of a web conveying means in the processing equipment by a downwardly inclined guide means forming a tapered throat or mouth.

The unfolded spans or sections of the fan-folded web material are discharged from Ithe conveying means in the processing equipment to engage the curved downwardly tapered upper wall of the guide means t-o be directed t-o the web receiving receptacle. This upper wall is spaced above the adjacent portion of the lower wall of the web receptacle a distance less than the length of a span so that `alternate ones of the spans -or sections of the web material are buckled inwardly into the throat from which they are expelled or propelled by continuing movement of the web. This stacks the alternate spans of the web material in folded or zigzag fashion within the web receptacle. Thus, the web material is stacked in folded form within the receptacle without requiring moving or power driven parts and solely by the configurations and relative positions of the guide means and the web receiving receptacle.

Many other objects and `advantages of the present invention will become apparent from considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a copying machine inn cluding a stacking structure embodying the present i11- vention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the stack folding apparatus in conjunction with the main elements of a copying machine;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a guide finger included in the stack-ing construction; and

FIGS. 4-8 are schematic diagrams illustrating the operation of the stack folding apparatus.

Referring now more specifically -to FIG. 1 of the drawings, therein is illustrated a copying machine indicated generally .as 10 which includes a stack folding assembly 12 embodying the present invention. The copying machine 10 produces a continuous copy of graphic material from a long original 14 on a long length or web 16 of sensitized paper, such as diazo copy paper. The web 16 is provided in a zigzag folded or stacked form to which it is returned after processing in lthe machine 10 by the stacking assembly 12 which comprises a low cost, easily fabricated construction operating independent of synchronization with the copying machine 1t).

The construction of the copying machine can be any f of the well-known type-s and, in general, includes a housing or frame construction 18 supported on a plurality of ground or floor engaging legs 20. The original 14 to be copied is carried as a loose coil on a supporting rod or shaft 22 supported on a forward portion of the housing 13 for the machine 10. The copy material 16 is provided in fan-folded form in a supply receptacle 24 mounted beneath the supply coil of the graphic original 14 to be copied. The web 16 of copy material is provided in the receptacle 24 in a fan-folded form in which successive spans or sections 16a thereof are joined to each other along fold lines 16b which provide a trailing edge for one span 16a and the leading edge for a subsequent span. Within the supply receptacle 24, the successive spans 16a of the sensitized copy material 16 are folded over each other in a zigzag or accordian pleated fashion to form a `stack in which these spans lie generally parallel to each other.

When the machine 10 is to be used in copying an elongated graphic original 14, the leading edge of the coil of the original 14 and the leading edge of the web 16 of copy paper are brought together and threaded through an opening between a table 26 (FIG. 2) and a guide member 28 and then advanced around the rounded front edge of the table 26 in a superimposed relationship and inserted between a plurality of feed rollers 3i) and a plurality of exible belts 32. The fiexible belts 32 are disposed in closely adjacent but slight spaced axial positions on a plurality of groups of guide pulleys, at least some of which are driven by a drive motor 34 to provide a first .conveying means for the superimposed webs 14 and 16.

The belts 32 advance the ysuperimposed webs 14, 16 into engagement with a rotating transparent drum 36 containing a light source 33 so that the sensitized web 16 of copy material is exposed in accordance with the graphic material on the web 14 as the superimposed webs pass by the light source 38 during rotation of the drum 36.

Following exposure, the original 14 is separated from the web 16 of copy material and is discharged into a trough or receiving means 4) as a loose coil. The exposed length of the web 16 is advanced to a developing station, indicated generally as 42, by the moving belts 32. The developing station 42 can include gas or liquid contacting means and a drying oven through which the web 16 is advanced by a web conveying means including a plurality of parallel driven flexible belts 44 which pass over adjacent axially spaced pulleys, such as the illustrated pulley 45. This second conveying means including the belts 44 and the pulleys 45 cooperates with a pressure roller 46 to discharge the web 16 into the stacking assembly 12.

The stacking assembly 12 comprises a web receiving receptacle having an upright front Wall 48 joined to an upright back wall 50 by a downwardly inclined lower wall 52. A downwardly inclined Wall 54 forming part of the guide means in the stacking assembly 12 terminates adjacent the upper end of the back wall 50 and can be formed integral therewith. To detachably mount this construction on the machine 10, a shelf 56 is secured to the frame 18 of the machine projecting forwardly from the front thereof and includes an upwardly projecting wall 56a which is engaged by a reverse bend portion 56u in the back wall 50 to accurately locate the structure on the shelf 56. The rear end of the wall 54 can be supported on a rod 58 carried by the frame 18.

The stacking assembly 12 includes a guide means formed by the wall 54 and a plurality of guide fingers 60 (FGS. 1 3) that are spaced above the wall 54 to define a throat or mouth 62 through which the web 16 is discharged to the web receiving receptacle. The rear end of each of the guide fingers 60` is provided with a generally U-shaped portion 69a (FIG. 3) so that the fingers 60 can -be secured in spaced positions on a supporting arm or bracket 62 by a plurality of fasteners 64. The individual guide fingers 6) include a generally rounded portion Gtb adjacent the U-shaped portion 60a and an outwardly flared or rounded lower end 60C. The fingers 60 are so positioned on the machine 10 that their lower ends 60e are spaced above and slightly behind the back edge of the lower wall 52 of the web receiving receptacle a distance less than the distance between successive fold lines 16h in the web material 16.

When the leading edge of the web 16 is discharged from between the pressure roller 46 and the fiexible belts 44, it is directed against and impinges on the guide fingers 69 and is defiected downwardly toward the lower wall 52 of the web receiving receptacle (FIG. 4). Continuing movement of the web 16 moves the leading edge of the first span 16a along the lower wall 52 in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4 until this leading edge engages the front wall 48. Thereafter, continuing movement of the web 16 completes the feeding of the rst span 16a of the web 16 into the receptacle so that it occupies the position illustrated in FIG. in which the first fold line 16b is disposed adjacent the back wall 50 with the first span 16a lying on the lower wall 52.

Further feeding of the web 16 advances the second and third spans 16a so that the next fold line 16h moves along the guide fingers 60 in engagement therewith. Since the distance between the junction of the lower wall 52 and the back wall Si) and the ends of the guide fingers 60 is less than the length of the next span 16a, the second span 16a is placed in compression by continuing feeding movement of the web 16 so that a point is reached at which the portion of the second span 16a disposed adjacent the second fold line 16h buckles or is fiexed inwardly into the throat 62 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6 of the drawings placing this portion of the second span 16a under slight compression.

As the web 16 is further advanced, the second fold line 16h moves outwardly beyond curved lower ends 60C of the guide fingers 6? and is propelled outwardly from the throat 62 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7 so that it moves toward the front wall 4S of the web receiving receptacle. Continuing movement of the web 16 advances this web so that a second fold line 16h is disposed adjacent the front wall 48 with the span span 16a overlying the first span 16a in a generally parallel relationship and with the third fold line 16h disposed adjacent the back wall 5t) with the third span 16a overlying the first and second spans, as illustrated in FIG. 8. Continuing movement of the web 16 causes successive spans 16a of this web to be stacked in folded relationship in the web receiving receptacle in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 5-8 of the drawings by causing alternate ones of the spans 16a to buckle inwardly into the throat 62. In this manner, the processed web 16 of sensitized paper is stacked in folded or zigzag fashion in the web receiving receptacle by the stacking assembly 12 without requiring moving or power driven components and independently of the speed at which the web 16 is exposed or processed by the machine 10.

Although the walls 48, 52, 50 and 54 are illustrated as being constructed of sheet material, these structures can be formed of rod or wire stock and as integral or separate constructions. Also, the lower wall 52 can be horizontal rather than inclined downwardly toward the front wall 48, and the guiding means provided by the fingers 60 can be made of sheet material. Although the invention has been described with reference to a single illustrative embodiment thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can -be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this invention.

What is -claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an apparatus for making copies of an original on continuous copy material formed of successive fanfolded spans joined :along fold lines, first guide means inclined generally downwardly in the general direction of the feed of the copy material, second guide means inclined downwardly in the general direction ot' the feed of the copy material and disposed below the first guide means to define a tapered converging throat the exit end of which is narrower than the length of a span; copy material receiving means positioned forwardly of the throat in the direction of the path of travel of said copy material and including a stop disposed forwardly of said throat and a rear stop spaced from said front stop by a distance equal to the length of a span and spaced from said first guide means less than the length 0f a Span and positioned below the exit of said throat, and conveying means for moving the copy material against the first guide means so that alternate ones of the spans are buckled in the throat between the first and second guide means and propelled into the receiving means by the conveying means to cause the spans of the copy material to be stacked above each other with successive fold lines disposed on opposite edges of the stack.

2. In an apparatus for handling fan-folded continuous web material having successive spans joined along transversely extending fold lines forming lead and following edge formations, a rst guide means inclined generally downwardly and forwardly in the direction of feed of the web material and having a forward lower end portion, second guide means spaced below said first guide means -converging toward the forward lower edge formation of said iirst guide means in the general direction yof the feed of the web material to form throat means having entry means and exit means, said exit means being formed at the converging end of the throat means, web receiving means having front and back walls and including spaced first and second stop means `spaced apart by the length of a span of the web material, said second stop means being disposed below the end portion of the first guide means less than the length of a span from `said rst guide means and forwardly relative to the forward edge -of said second guide means in the general'direction of the feed of the web material, and conveying means moving the web material through said entry means into engagement with the first guide means to direct the web material into the web receiving means against said first stop with alternate ones of the fold lines being `disposed adjacent the second stop means and cooperating with the rst guide means to flex alternate ones of the `spans in the opening between the first and second guide means so that the spans are propelled outwardly -by the conveying means into a stack within the web receiving means with the remaining alternate fold lines disposed adjacent the first `stop means.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 in which said second guide means is formed by a lower wall inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the back wall of the web receiving receptacle.

d. The apparatus set fort-h in claim 1 Iin which the first guide means includes a plurality of somewhat `curved iingers extending generally upwardly and rearwardly relative to the web receiving receptacle.

5. In an apparatus for handling fan-folded continuous web material in which successive spans are joined along fold lines extending generally transverse to the direction `of movement of the web material; lower guide means inclined downwardly and forwardly, upper guide means inclined downwardly and forwardly at a greater inclination l than said lower guide means to form a tapered converging throat with said lower guide means, the lower end of said upper guide means being outwardly flared and spaced above and slightly behind the forward edge of said lower guide means, said throat 4being smaller than the length -of a span 4of said web material; a web receiving receptacle having upright front and rear wall joined `by a downwardly inclined lower lwall, the upper edge of said back wall joining the lower edge of said lower guide means, said receptacle being dimensioned to receive successive spans folded over each other, said upright walls forming stop means with said rear wall being closer to said upper guide means than the length of a span; and means for directing web material against said upper guide means.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 above wherein said upper guide means comprises a plurality of spaced guide fingers.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim f1 in which said stop means are formed by forward and rear walls and said walls are interconnected by la lower wall inclined forwardly and downwardly.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,416,129 5/22 Sherman 282-163 1,806,041 5/31 Carroll 282-163 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examinez'. 

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR MAKING COPIES OF AN ORIGINAL ON CONTINUOUS COPY MATERIAL FORMED OF SUCCESSIVE FANFOLDED SPANS JOINED ALONG FOLD LINES, FIRST GUIDE MEANS INCLINED GENERALLY DOWNWARDLY IN THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF THE FEED OF THE COPY MATERIAL, SECOND GUIDE MEANS INCLINED DOWNWARDLY IN THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF THE FEED OF THE COPY MATERIAL AND DISPOSED BELOW THE FIRST GUIDE MEANS TO DEFINE A TAPERED CONVERGING THROAT THE EXIT END OF WHICH IS NARROWER THAN THE LENGTH OF A SPAN; COPY MATERIAL RECEIVING MEANS POSITIONED FORWARDLY OF THE THROAT IN THE DIRECTION OF THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID COPY MATERIAL AND INCLUDING A STOP DISPOSED FORWARDLY OF SAID THROAT AND A REAR STOP SPACED FROM SAID FRONT STOP BY A DISTANCE EQUAL TO THE LENGTH OF A SPAN AND SPACED FROM SAID FIRST GUIDE MEANS LESS THAN THE LENGTH OF A SPAN AND POSITIONED BELOW THE EXIT OF SAID THROAT, AND CONVEYING MEANS FOR MOVING THE COPY MATERIAL AGAINST THE FIRST GUIDE MEANS SO THAT ALTERNATE ONES OF THE SPANS ARE BUCKLED IN THE THROAT BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND GUIDE MEANS AND PROPELLED INTO THE RECEIVING MEANS BY THE CONVEYING MEANS TO CAUSE THE SPANS OF THE COPY MATERIAL TO BE STACKED ABOVE EACH OTHER WITH SUCCESSIVE FOLD LINES DISPOSED ON OPPOSITE EDGES OF THE STACK. 